800k needed 2 or 3 months in advance of renewal?

Recommended Posts

Currently on one year extension of stay on a Non O visa. Due to expire in September. I complied with the requirement to keep 800k in the bank for three months after, and then started using those funds towards living expenses. Kept above the 400k minimum as required.

cant remember if it is 2 months or 3 months before the next extension when it needs to be topped back up to 800k. Advice appreciated thanks.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Maybe they have all caught up with the 2 month. Which of course is correct.

However as per usual in Thailand even after the changes to money in bank requirements, there were couple imm offices that were still requiring 3 month within last year. Hope they have come up to speed.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

The problem is every office (or even every individual IO in a single office) will use a different set of rules...the new law is 2 months but trying to convince some IO of that is futile

Another side of the problem is that the large majority of applicants don't stand their ground even if they are 100 % sure they are correct and the immigration officer (or IO volunteer) they are dealing with is mistaken < the education level of lower immigration officers is not very high, and the training they receive is rather poor >.

When you are sure that you are correct (like in this case > 2 months before application) the recommended approach is to request politely but firmly to talk to the officer in charge. When the lower officer you are dealing with refuses to let you plead your case at the officer in charge, you then take out a note-pad and start writing his name (that will for sure get his/her attention) and then take your mobile phone and start calling the IO helpdesk 1178. He/she will ask what you are doing and you simply say that you are filing a complaint for not following the rules, chances are high they will tell you wait a moment and get the officer in charge. Never lose your cool, but stay polite and firm.

Obviously if also the higher ranking officer refuses to comply with what the written PoliceOrder IO rules/regulations prescribe, then it is indeed futile to insist.

Contrary to what you might think, you will not be ostriched next time but you will have actually gained their respect (when you stayed polite and kept your cool).

Note: Bringing copies (english and thai language) of the PoliceOrder IO rules/regulations will be helpful when you suspect your case will be challenged.